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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination
Published on: September 25, 2014
Invasive meningococcal disease and latex agglutination test--is it still beneficial for diagnosis?
E Bronská1, O Dzupová, P Krízová
1Department of Infectious Diseases, 2nd Medical Faculty of Charles University, Prague, Czechia. e.bronska@seznam.cz
Abstract:
We showed current clinical usefulness of the latex agglutination (LA) test for confirmation of meningococcal etiology on 32 cerebrospinal fluid, 77 serum and 93 urine samples collected during the first week of hospitalization from 19 patients with laboratory confirmed invasive meningococcal disease. The positivity of the LA test in cerebrospinal fluid was 47%, in serum 42% and in urine 24%, while the PCR of cerebrospinal fluid and serum was positive in 95 and 47% cases, respectively. The latest positivity of the LA test was detected on day 2 in cerebrospinal fluid, on day 3 in serum and on day 4 in urine. In the group of patients who had received antibiotic therapy we found nonsignificant reduction of LA positivity and also statistically significant reduction of culture positivity in CSF (p = 0.04); the PCR positivity changed minimally. In blood samples, nonsignificant reduction of culture positivity and no difference in LA and PCR positivity was found. We did not find any statistically significant relationship between test results and clinical forms. The LA test can be therefore considered to be an auxiliary diagnostic method, rapid and easily practicable but less sensitive than PCR. It can be recommended especially for local laboratories where PCR is not available and the patient already received antibiotics before admission to the hospital.
Insights
The latex agglutination (LA) test is a useful auxiliary method for diagnosing meningococcal disease, especially in local labs. While less sensitive than PCR, it remains practical for confirming Neisseria meningitidis.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Diagnostic Testing
Background:
- Invasive meningococcal disease requires rapid and accurate diagnosis.
- Latex agglutination (LA) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) are diagnostic methods for meningococcal infections.
- Evaluating the clinical utility of existing diagnostic tests is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the clinical usefulness of the latex agglutination (LA) test for confirming meningococcal etiology.
- To compare the sensitivity of the LA test with PCR and culture methods.
- To determine the impact of prior antibiotic therapy on test performance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum, and urine samples from 19 patients with confirmed invasive meningococcal disease.
- Testing samples using latex agglutination (LA), PCR, and culture.
- Correlation of test results with clinical data and antibiotic treatment history.
Main Results:
- LA test positivity rates were 47% in CSF, 42% in serum, and 24% in urine.
- PCR positivity rates were 95% in CSF and 47% in serum.
- LA test detected positivity up to day 4 in urine, day 3 in serum, and day 2 in CSF.
- Antibiotic therapy showed a non-significant reduction in LA positivity and a significant reduction in CSF culture positivity.
- No significant relationship was found between test results and clinical forms of the disease.
Conclusions:
- The LA test is a rapid, practical, auxiliary diagnostic method for meningococcal disease.
- LA test is less sensitive than PCR but valuable for local laboratories lacking PCR.
- The LA test is recommended when PCR is unavailable and patients have received pre-hospital antibiotics.
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